Scientists at the University of Michigan have found low blood iron levels in about 40% of girls and young women. The research was published in the journal JAMA Network.
The authors of the analysis used data on girls and women ages 12 to 21 collected over more than 20 years in the United States. They found low levels of iron in the blood in 40%, and iron deficiency anemia in 6%.
Although a quarter of girls who have not yet menstruated have iron deficiency, the results showed that menstruation was a significant risk factor. According to scientists, girls and women lose a lot of iron during heavy periods, but an elemental deficiency can develop even with a normal amount of discharge.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that women of reproductive age be tested for anemia every five to ten years. The authors of the new study noted that screening requires analysis not only for iron, but also for its carrier protein, ferritin.
A deficiency in iron, an essential element for the production of red blood cells, can lead to pale skin, fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating, as well as shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Foods high in iron (watercress, beans, fish, tofu, eggs, and dried fruits) can help increase iron levels in the body.
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